From the Silver Springs Trails website:
The Montgomery County Council Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee finished its review of the DPWT Phase I Metropolitan Branch Trail conceptual design. The Committee voted 2-0 (Floreen and Leventhal for, Perez absent) to direct DPWT to carry the MetBranch Trail Option 1 into Phase II facility design. The Option 1 alignment will follow closely along the CSX right-of-way from the Silver Spring Transit Center to the Takoma Campus of Montgomery College and will have a trail bridge over Georgia Avenue and a trail underpass under East-West Highway.
This is good news. This is the trail (in Maryland - more about DC next week) that cyclists wanted. Phase II takes about 18 months. Funding could begin in the FY09 budget.
Also, when I was out on the MBT last week, I saw the construction of a fence going on along Fenton Street (see photo). I'm not sure what the purpose of it is. Is it a safety feature? Even if it is, I don't like it. Why block the view from the trail and of the trail. One goal of trail development is place-making. Fences do not make places. They divide people. This is unfortunate.
Its Silver Spring! Only ONE spring, now defunct. Not Silver Springs. That place is in Florida, not Maryland.
Posted by: Ken | June 30, 2006 at 11:06 AM
That's what I get for posting after midnight.
Posted by: washcycle | June 30, 2006 at 11:31 AM
Ha, maybe the fence builders don't want passing motorists to get any "crazy" ideas that maybe they could be enjoying life while riding a bicycle instead of being separated from it in their cars!
Cool news that Option 1 was chosen!
Posted by: iconoclasst | July 06, 2006 at 06:28 PM